The Best—and Worst—Things About Houston’s Hot Summers
Houston is an armpit, and our summers are no joke. Unlike the other seasons, our triple-digit summers are arguably the absolute worst part of living in Houston. Despite that, there’s still so much to look forward to. For this edition of Yes Ma’am, No Ma’am, we’re delving into the best and worst of the season.
yes MA’AM
Heat mitigation! More trees and greenery mean more shade and cooler temps for everyone.
NO MA’AM
Avoiding the outdoors. Don’t let the heat keep you from nature. Sometimes, all you need is a Slip ’n Slide, a sprinkler, or some water balloons to have fun.
yes MA’AM
Nighttime activities. Drive-in theaters, rooftop bars, and stargazing are quintessential.
NO MA’AM
Power outages. Get it together, CenterPoint.
yes MA’AM
Cooling centers. Who doesn’t love some free AC?
Image: Jakub Snabl/Shutterstock.com
NO MA’AM
Inclement weather. Hurricane season, hailstorms, and the rare derecho ain’t it.
yes MA’AM
Alternative sports. Ice-skating, rock climbing, roller-skating, and diving are ways for the cool kids to stay active.
NO MA’AM
The lack of public pools. Can you believe that Houston has only 38 public pools? It’s not enough!
yes MA’AM
Hot soup, really. Pho, ramen, hot pot, menudo, posole, kimchi stew—real foodies know that cranking up the AC is mandatory for a delicious yet sweaty meal.
NO MA’AM
The metal end of the seatbelt. Ouch!
yes MA’AM
Savory ice-cold foods. Ice cream is great, but this is also the perfect time for crudos, gazpacho, aguachile, ceviche, naengmyeon, salads, and poke.
NO MA’AM
Ignoring your safety. Don’t forget to slather on the sunscreen and stay hydrated. Nothing sucks more than a sunburn or heat exhaustion.
